NDDC Board’s To Remain In Office For Four Years, Says Court

All doubts over the tenure of the current board of the NDDC may have been cleared by a federal high court sitting in Uyo, which has ruled ruled that the the current board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will have to serve for four years. The board is led by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as chairman.

This follows a suit jointly filed by Clement Awakessien and Godwin Ikogho of Grand Council of Niger Delta Youth Leaders, seeking the court's resolution of the tenure question.

In the suit, the duo had referred to Section 3 sub 1 of the Niger Delta Development Commission Act and section 5 of the same law which stipulates tenure and issues of vacancy in office respectively.

The Faces of Grand Council of Niger Youth leaders specifically posited that the tenure of Ndoma-Egba's board couldn't be said to be the continuation of that of Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw as the latter's tenure had terminated since July 2015.

They averred that it was illegal to claim that the tenure of Egba was continuation of Ewa's and should terminate on 15th December, 2017.

The plaintiffs urged the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to abide by section 5 sub 1, 13 and 15 of 1999 constitution with regards to oath of allegiance and "Preserve, Protect, implement otherwise ensure the protection and implementation of Niger Delta Development Commission Act".

Delivering the judgment on the suit, Justice I.M. Isni affirmed almost all the prayers put across by plaintiff but ruled out an order of injunction restraining the President of the Federal Government from removing Ndoma Egba as the chairman of the board until his tenure expires.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the plaintiff, Dennis Okwapam described the ruling as unbiased and fair to both parties and portrayed the court as hope of a common man.

Awakessien and Ikogho in their separate reactions said that the judgement was victory for Niger Deltans.